Wyoming Lottery Debuts

Winner purchases first ticket at Sheridan Holiday station

August 25, 2014

SHERIDAN, Wyo. -- The Wyoming Lottery Corp. on Aug. 25 reported $1,000 in sales per minute for the first hour of ticket sales on Aug. 24.

Between noon on Sunday, when lottery sales opened, and midnight, there were $198,612 in sales the first day. ALF's Pub & Package Liquors in Cheyenne and KIKS Chevron in Evanston tied for top retailer sales at $2,050 each, followed by $1,079 in sales at the Holiday gas station and convenience store in Sheridan where the first lottery ticket was sold.

Total Powerball sales were $130,578 with Powerball sales being $108,910 and Power Play sales being $21,668.

Total Mega Millions sales were $68,034 with Mega Million sales being $49,979 with Megaplier sales being $18,055.

"We had a very good grand opening day, showing the tremendous support that Wyoming residents have for the lottery," said Wyoming Lottery CEO, Jon Clontz. "The credit also goes to the dedicated retailers, many of whom held their own launch parties."

On Sunday, Mary Ogg, a 67-year-old grandmother from Sheridan, bought the first two lottery tickets at the Holiday Station. The lottery chose her randomly from among the more than 27,000 entrants in a giveaway promoting the launch of the lottery. In addition to purchasing the first lottery ticket sold in Wyoming, Ogg also won a 2014 Jeep Wrangler and free Mega Millions tickets for a year.

At the station, WyoLotto officials held a ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremony for the service attended by the Wyoming Lottery board, legislators, local elected officials, the Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce ambassadors and the public.

After Ogg bought the first ticket, a line of people wrapped around the counter and trailed outside as they waited for their chance to buy first-day tickets. The Lottery also hosted a small community celebration with games, barbecue and live music to mark the occasion.

Yolo, the six-foot-tall bright yellow jackpotalope, made its first public appearances this weekend. Yolo gave the Jeep keys to Ogg and entertained the crowd before disappearing.

Since 2003 CSP magazine has ranked No. 1 in readership and market share over all other industry publications. C-store marketers have identified CSP as the preferred magazine source for their trade marketing communications. With industry-leading, highly targeted circulation to more than 100,000 subscribers, CSP reaches the key convenience retailing decision-makers fifteen times a year.